It has been a big Video Friday with lots of different magic, but mentioning the upcoming giant robot fight got us thinking about how closely magic was once tied to automatons, which are kind of the first robots. Here is a a feature on the automaton work of Jaquet-Droz, a 18th century watchmaker, fromThe Watches (because watchmakers often doubled as automaton and magic prop designers/builders).

Here is a longer, slightly different version of the Marco Tempest’s latest quadcopter routine that he posted on his Vimeo account just yesterday. As Marco pushes the boundaries between technology and magic (and openly discusses exactly what he is doing), I wonder how all you iTricksters feel about what he is doing. Are we coming to a time that sees the magic industry considering Seeed Studio and Raspberry Pi suppliers like Vernet and Goshman?

Normally I find automatons very interesting and even charming. As the headline states, though, this one kind of creeps me out. It seems like something that would be trying to kill Doctor Who. This circa 1900 piece is one of several being auctioned by Auction Team Breker in Koeln, Germany next month. Get more details on their website.

It is Pi Day… because it is 3/14. But in addition to being a day to celebrate the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter (that is what the mathematical constant pi is… I wasn’t always a magic reporter; I first majored in physics originally) people are celebrating other versions of pi(e). Check your local news for deals on pizza pies or apple pies. But around iTricks Tower Midwest our favorite pi is the Raspberry Pi, the ultra low cost single board computer that can be used for a wide variety of rad projects. If you aspire to be what the hip kids call “a maker,” then you should familiarize yourself with the Raspberry Pi. We have picked up versions (the very functional Pi Zero) for as low as $5! And this is how Raspberry Pi celebrated their anniversary.

iTricks.com Magic News, Magic Videos and Podcasts is proudly powered by WordPress.
Theme designed by Jake.
iTricks is the number one source for daily magic news on the web. Criss Angel, David Blaine, Penn & Teller, David Copperfield, and more! Magic videos, podcasts and free magic.Entries (RSS)
and Comments (RSS)